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Dumbbell Hang Power Clean

A power clean performed with a pair of dumbbells from the hang, using the same hip-driven pull as the barbell lift while letting each arm track its own path to the shoulder.

OlympicDumbbellExplosive pull to rack
GoLightWeight mediadumbbell-hang-power-clean

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

GlutesTrapezius

Secondary

HamstringsQuadricepsDeltoidsCore

Equipment

Dumbbell

Pattern

Explosive pull to rack

Setup

  1. 01Hold a dumbbell in each hand at the sides with a neutral grip.
  2. 02Set feet at hip width in a pulling stance.
  3. 03Hinge to the hang position just above the knee, shoulders over or slightly ahead of the dumbbells.
  4. 04Keep the lats tight so the dumbbells stay close to the legs.

Execution

  1. 01From the hang, drive the hips forward and extend explosively.
  2. 02Shrug hard as the dumbbells rise past the thighs.
  3. 03Pull the elbows up and around, punching the hands through to rack the dumbbells on the shoulders.
  4. 04Catch in a quarter squat and stand up fully to finish.

Checkpoints

  • -Dumbbells stay close to the body through the entire pull.
  • -Catch height stays above a parallel squat.
  • -Elbows come through high and fast, not caught on the forearms.
  • -Both dumbbells land on the shoulders together, evenly.

Common mistakes

  • -Curling the dumbbells up with the arms instead of using hip drive.
  • -Letting the dumbbells swing forward away from the thighs.
  • -Catching with the wrists bent back instead of racked on the shoulders.
  • -Catching unevenly, with one side arriving ahead of the other.

Programming notes

  • -Use 4 to 5 sets of 3 to 5 reps at moderate loads for speed and technique.
  • -More forgiving on the wrists than a barbell rack, useful when grip or mobility limits a barbell catch.
  • -Pair with a dumbbell push press to build toward the hang clean to push press complex.

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